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Pictures from the 2023 Vincent Systems Symposium, where customers presented the company's latest product innovations. VINCENT Symposium 2023 Close

2003 - Fluidhand 6 Up The Fluidhand 6 is a particularly compact version of the hydraulic hand prosthesis, reduced to the essentials. The index, middle and ring fingers are each moved in the base joint via a flexible bellows drive, the little finger is mechanically coupled to the ring finger, and the middle finger is hydraulically coupled to the ring finger. The thumb is actuated in the basic joint. In this way, the thumb and index finger can be moved separately, while the other fingers move together. The 4 drives are controlled by a 3 valve bank, the miniature pump sucks distilled water from a pressure storage tank to pump it into the drive chambers. The weight of the hand is about 350 g. The aluminum fingers were covered with a PU foam. In the basic joints, all long fingers have an elastically mounted abduction. At this stage of development, experiments were carried out with different variants of the fluid hand, with the number of joints and drives as well as the required valves being varied considerably. The aim was to find an optimum between size, anatomical design and weight on the one hand and functionality on the other. Extremely reduced versions with only 4 drives and three valves, such as the Fluidhand 6, were built, which could be designed in this way to be very small, light and anatomical. This version of the Fluidhand is a particularly interesting candidate for a robust prosthesis suitable for everyday use, since the smallest number of hydraulic components was installed here. The systems are very light throughout, but also very complex in terms of the physical effects that occur, such as cavitation or the problem of changing material parameters, especially the elastic drives and connecting hoses in the course of operation, as well as wear and corrosion on the valves and the pump. Up

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1999 - Fluidhand 2 Up The new planar technology for manufacturing fluidic drives and kinematics was therefore ideally suited for actively moving miniature catheters and endoscopes. However, the forces achievable with planar film drives, which operate at a working pressure of 0.5-1 bar, were too low for the construction of an artificial hand. To generate higher grasping forces, a correspondingly higher working pressure had to act in the fluidic drives. For Fluidhand 2, “artificial muscles” based on thin silicone hoses were therefore used, which were sheathed with a flexurally flexible, stretch-resistant fabric made of polyamide. The tubes of the Fluidhand 2 were unfolded in the finger joints. When subjected to an overpressure of up to 4 bar, the joints expanded unilaterally and realized a curvature in the opposite joint direction. Each finger of the hand has two pneumatic muscles, the thumb has three, the wrist has four. The extension is done by a rubber band. The joint and support structure in the fingers, thumb and hand, was made of fiber-reinforced composite material. The artificial hand scored with its consistently soft and compliant structure, very fast movements and pronounced adaptability when grasping. The grasping forces achieved were around 2.5 N per finger. Objects heavier than 500 g could not yet be grasped with this hand. As in Fluidhand 1, the hand was driven by compressed air, which meant that a powerful compressor was required to operate the hand. Up

Passive partial hand system for partial hand prostheses with flexible finger positioning, durable materials, and optional cable-operated joint. VINCENTpartial body bodypowered partial hand system The passive partial hand system enables prosthetic reconstruction of part of the hand. It consists of functional passive finger and thumb prostheses that can be positioned at different angles in one or two joints. The weight-optimized stainless steel joints with variable-length finger or thumb attachments are very robust and water-resistant. The finger or thumb covers, which vary in length, are made of durable and dirt-repellent HTV silicone. The fingers are mounted directly to the shaft with two screws coming from the shaft or aligned and fixed in position using various frame types made of stainless steel sheet and aluminum adapters. The fingers can be equipped with a cable-pull joint and, optionally, a grid joint. The joints work in such a way that pulling the cable causes the cable-pull joint to bend. Flyer VINCENTpartial body

2005 - Fluidhand 8 Up The Fluidhand 8 has 8 drives that are controlled via 5 valves. The bellows in the index finger and middle finger are each hydraulically coupled with each other, and the drives of the ring and little fingers are also connected with each other via a common valve. The special feature of this further development is that the metacarpus has been replaced by a hermetically sealed pressure body. Inside the metacarpus is an elastic tank in the form of a diaphragm, in which both the drive medium (vegetable oil) and the control electronics, valves and pump are integrated; all system components "float" permanently in the drive medium. Between the pressure body shell and the diaphragm there is again a two-phase gas with a constant pressure of 2 bar. The integrated design allows any space reserves in the metacarpus to be used as a fluid reservoir, while at the same time forming a maximum gas volume for preloading the hydraulic tank. The pump can draw directly from the environment and the pump, valves and electronics are optimally cooled by the surrounding liquid. The design makes the hand very compact and at the same time extremely stable. Due to the very flat metacarpus of 30 mm and the short design, the hand achieves an anatomical shape and with only 410 g it is particularly light. The Quicksnap wrist closure makes the prosthesis compatible with all stem systems and their power supply. The prosthesis is controlled by two EMG electrodes integrated in the prosthesis socket. Simple trigger switching signals can be used to switch between pre-programmed grips and the grips can then be controlled proportionally. For the first time, a sense of touch has also been integrated into the prosthesis. The grasping force measured on the index finger via a sensor is transmitted to the system controller, which activates a vibration motor on the hand that transmits coded information to the prosthesis wearer about the force applied. In addition, the Fluidhand 8 serves as a test platform for new prosthesis controls such as grip pattern recognition or motion control using 3D sensors, research areas on which the research center has been working intensively as part of the Fluidhand development. Up

History of the Fluidhand and the VINCENTevolution 1998 Fluidhand 1 thin foil soft robot hand with 5DOF, 5iDOF This first soft hand consists of thin foil layers, which have been joined together to form more complex drives in a sandwich construction. Five fingers, built up from 6 foil layers each, functionally welded in pairs, with the middle two foils forming the skeletal structure filled with epoxy resin. The outer two foil layers each form a fluidic muscle. For this purpose, two thin films were welded together in such a manner that chambers were formed in a row and connected to each other. When this structure is inflated with a gas or liquid, it contracts by about 20% of its length, similar to the natural muscle, and the finger curls up like a bow. Read more 1999 Fluidhand 2 silicon tube soft sobot hand with 16DOF, 11iDOF The new planar technology for manufacturing fluidic drives and kinematics was therefore ideally suited for actively moving miniature catheters and endoscopes. However, the forces achievable with planar film drives, which operate at a working pressure of 0.5-1 bar, were too low for the construction of an artificial hand. To generate higher grasping forces, a correspondingly higher working pressure had to act in the fluidic drives. For Fluidhand 2, “artificial muscles” based on thin silicone hoses were therefore used, which were sheathed with a flexurally flexible, stretch-resistant fabric made of polyamide. Read more 2000 Fluidhand 3 rubber bulg soft hand prosthesis with 10DOF, 1iDOF With the third generation of the Fluidhand, Schulz transferred the technology of flexible fluid actuators to a hand prosthesis. To achieve higher grasping forces, the drives were modified for grasping even heavy objects. The unfolded silicone tubes reinforced with fabric were replaced by miniature folded bellows, which in turn were encased in fabric and attached to aluminum joints in the folds by nylon threads to keep their shape. Three drive elements in each finger, with the two distal bellows coupled together, and two drives in the thumb allow 14 joint axes to move in this hand, equivalent to 14 DOF at 10 iDOF. The fluid actuators were driven by means of miniature hydraulics. The control system, consisting of pump, valve, electronics, sensors and tank, was connected to the prosthesis via a hose approximately 1 m long. The hydraulic unit was the size of a portable telephone and was worn on the belt. Read more 2001 Fluidhand 4 rubber bulg soft hand prosthesis with 10DOF, 6iDOF The Fluidhand 4 has 10 flexible bellows drives, each of which, when pressurized, angles an aluminum joint by 90 degrees. Stretching is achieved by suction of the drive medium and by additional elastic bands. Each long finger has two drives that are fluidically coupled to each other and each leads to a common control valve in the metacarpus. The thumb has two individually movable drives, each of which is actuated by a separate valve. The drive medium is water. This hand prosthesis operates hydraulically for the first time. A miniature pump draws the fluid from an elastic reservoir in the forearm and pumps it at up to 6 bar via the valve bank into the bellows drive chambers. The pump and valves are controlled by a microprocessor in the hand, and the prosthesis wearer gives the control commands via myoelectric sensors. Read more 2002 Fluidhand 5 rubber bulg soft handprosthesis with 8DOF, 5iDOF The Fluidhand 5 was designed with the aim of integrating all system components of miniature hydraulics into the metacarpals in order to make the hand compatible with established socket systems. The prosthesis can be connected to all standard prosthetic sockets via a quicksnap wrist. Both the myoelectric sensors and the energy storage of the socket are used. The pump, fluid tank, valve bank and controller are located in and on the metacarpus. With the reduction in tank size, the number of fluidic drive was reduced to 8. The ring finger and little finger are flexed over one drive each. In the weight-optimized frame in sandwich construction, the elastic finger abduction was integrated. Five valves control the 8 drives of the hand, with the ring, little and middle fingers being hydraulically connected to each other. Read more 2003 Fluidhand 6 rubber bulg soft handprosthesis with 4DOF, 3iDOF The Fluidhand 6 is a particularly compact version of the hydraulic hand prosthesis, reduced to the essentials. The index, middle and ring fingers are each moved in the base joint via a flexible bellows drive, the little finger is mechanically coupled to the ring finger, and the middle finger is hydraulically coupled to the ring finger. The thumb is actuated in the basic joint. In this way, the thumb and index finger can be moved separately, while the other fingers move together. The 4 drives are controlled by a 3 valve bank, the miniature pump sucks distilled water from a pressure storage tank to pump it into the drive chambers. The weight of the hand is about 350 g. The aluminum fingers were covered with a PU foam. In the basic joints, all long fingers have an elastically mounted abduction. Weiter lesen 2004 Fluidhand 7 rubber bulg soft handprosthesis with 8DOF, 8iDOF The Fluidhand 7 is designed as an experimental hand. It is used to develop new control methods and to test a new tank system that is capable of storing energy. The hand therefore has one valve for each of the 8 drives. A type of spring accumulator was developed for the hydraulic tank, which allows the hand to be closed quickly and silently without the hydraulic pump operating. Due to the large number of new and experimental components, the metacarpus has turned out to be significantly larger than the previous model, but at this stage of development, the anatomical shape and size of the hand is not a priority. Read more 2005 Fluidhand 8 rubber bulg soft handprosthesis with 8DOF, 4iDOF The Fluidhand 8 has 8 drives that are controlled via 5 valves. The bellows in the index finger and middle finger are each hydraulically coupled with each other, and the drives of the ring and little fingers are also connected with each other via a common valve. The special feature of this further development is that the metacarpus has been replaced by a hermetically sealed pressure body. Inside the metacarpus is an elastic tank in the form of a diaphragm, in which both the drive medium (vegetable oil) and the control electronics, valves and pump are integrated; all system components "float" permanently in the drive medium. Between the pressure body shell and the diaphragm there is again a two-phase gas with a constant pressure of 2 bar. Read more 2006 Fluidhand 9 rubber bulg soft handprosthesis with 5DOF, 5iDOF The Fluidhand 9 has 5 drives of different sizes. The base joints of the index finger and middle finger are equipped with stronger drives. The elastic fluid tank is located in the wrist. When the fingers are emptied, they are stretched and the fluid is pumped from the finger joints into the elastic tank in the wrist, bending the wrist and opening the hand further. The pump is noise-isolated and free-swinging in a CFRP tank; valves and controls are located in the metacarpus, which is completely covered with CFRP. The thumb with a drive in the base pivots between flat hand and opposition position to the three-point grip. Read more Juni 2009 Der Startschuss für Vincent Systems fällt. Damit wird der Grundstein für die nächste Phase der Entwicklung gelegt - Die VINCENTevolution-Serie. 2010 Unterüberschrift VINCENTevolution xxxx Unterüberschrift VINCENTpartial 2013 Unterüberschrift VINCENTevolution2 2013 Unterüberschrift VINCENTpartial2 2014 Stefan fragen: Bild ja/nein? Unterüberschrift VINCENTyoung 2015 Unterüberschrift VINCENTyoung2 2017 Unterüberschrift VINCENTevolution3 2017 VINCENTpartial3 2018 VINCENTyoung3 2020 Sonderanfertigung mit integriertem Akku 2020 VINCENTevolution4 Juni 2009 Der Startschuss für Vincent Systems fällt. Damit wird der Grundstein für die nächste Phase der Entwicklung gelegt - Die VINCENTevolution-Serie. VINCENTevolution1 VINCENTpartial1 VINCENTevolution2 VINCENTpartial2 VINCENTyoung 2010 xxx 2013 2012 2014 VINCENTyoung2 VINCENTevolution3 VINCENTpartial3 VINCENTyoung3 Sonderanfertigung mit integrietem Akku VINCENTpartial1 VINCENTpartial1 VINCENTevolution2 VINCENTevolution2 VINCENTevolution2 VINCENTevolution2 VINCENTyoung VINCENTyoung 2015 VINCENTpartial1 VINCENTpartial1 VINCENTevolution2 VINCENTevolution2 VINCENTevolution2 VINCENTevolution2 VINCENTyoung VINCENTyoung 2017 VINCENTpartial1 VINCENTpartial1 VINCENTevolution2 VINCENTevolution2 VINCENTevolution2 VINCENTevolution2 VINCENTyoung VINCENTyoung 2017 VINCENTpartial1 VINCENTpartial1 VINCENTevolution2 VINCENTevolution2 VINCENTevolution2 VINCENTevolution2 VINCENTyoung VINCENTyoung 2018 VINCENTpartial1 VINCENTpartial1 VINCENTevolution2 VINCENTevolution2 VINCENTevolution2 VINCENTevolution2 VINCENTyoung VINCENTyoung 2020 VINCENTevolution4 2020 Current products

Specialized software solutions for controlling and adjusting prostheses and exoskeletons – intuitive operation and adjustment. Software for configuring and adjusting the prostheses VINCENTmobile The VINCENTmobile app comes standard on a tablet with every myoelectric hand prosthesis. It can be used to make user-specific settings as well as to train the numerous grips of the VINCENT hand prostheses.

The world's first myoelectric partial hand prosthesis that is IP68 waterproof. It also features intuitive control, individual customization, and a high quality of life. VINCENTpartial4 Waterproof to IP68 | Modular design | Individually customizable | Single Finger Control Light and compact | Numerous grip types, selectable at any time | Available in 40 color combinations The functional prosthetic restoration of parts of the hand presents a particular technical challenge. The myoelectrically controlled partial hand prosthesis VINCENTpartial4 is specifically designed to meet these needs, as it can be individually adapted to the care situation. The VINCENTpartial4 is a hand prosthesis for partial hand restorations with motorised individual fingers and thumbs. Sensors and controls have been miniaturised to allow them to be placed directly on the back of the hand, together with the mouldable battery cells. This allows an anatomical reconstruction of the hand where technically possible. The fingers and thumb are attached to the prosthetic socket using a steel frame design. This determines the width of the hand as well as the position and alignment of the fingers. The metacarpal arch can also be modelled. The prosthesis can be controlled via EMG sensors using muscle tension or via tactile force sensors. The battery system can be charged via a USB-C socket. If there is no power socket, it can also be charged via a mobile power bank. The grip selection and control of fingers follow the uniform control concept of the VINCENT hand prostheses. Many different grips can be achieved by timed opening and closing signals, using four long fingers and a thumb. If fewer powered fingers are used, the number of grips are reduced accordingly. The fingers and thumb are made of high-strength aluminium alloy, or titanium for even greater durability. All components are rubberised for a secure grip, and the tip of the index finger is touchscreen compatible. The joints of all fingers and the thumb are fully covered in every possible position. This prevents objects from being clamped as the fingers and the thumb open. Eight different colors give the silicone parts of the VINCENTpartial4 an individual and unique design. The colors black, white, pearl white and transparent as well as four different natural colors are available, each in combination with five different metal colors and titanium. Waterproofness of the prosthesis The motorised fingers of the VINCENTpartial4 are waterproof according to IP68. Washing hands under running water is possible, provided that the design of the prosthesis socket also permits this. The control unit, sensors and batteries must still be protected from water. Single finger control The single finger control enables the five fingers to be individually controlled by up to five input signals. This allows a faster and more intuitive use of the prosthesis. Flyer VINCENTpartial4 Technical specifications Textile gloves & Accessories VINCENTpartial4 we love perfection

The neo1 exoskeleton for the upper extremities: myoelectric control, wearable under clothing, ideal for paralysis caused by stroke or plexus injuries. neo1 World's first under-clothing myoelectric exoskeleton for the upper extremity With neo1, Vincent Systems presents the breakthrough myoelectric exoskeleton designed specifically for users with limited upper extremity functionality, especially to compensate for paralysis caused by stroke and plexus injuries. This innovative technology uses advanced myoelectric control in conjunction with powerful micromotors in the elbow and hand areas to help users with their mobility and independence challenges due to their limitations. The myoelectric exoskeleton uses state-of-the-art sensor technology that detects and interprets the electrical signals generated by the user's muscles. By analyzing these signals, the exoskeleton intuitively responds to the user's movement intentions and allows them to regain control over their affected limbs. One of the most important features of this exoskeleton is its lightweight and ergonomic design. It is the world's first actively controlled exoskeleton that can be worn under the user's clothing due to its slim shape that is adapted to the body. This feature opens up a whole new horizon of applications as the system can be inconspicuously integrated into everyday life. Vincent Systems emphasizes comfort and adaptability, allowing users to wear the device for extended periods of time. The exoskeleton is customized to fit each user's anatomy. The control system is also user-specific, optimally adjusted for each wearer through a variety of parameters depending on the severity of the paralysis and the available muscle signals. In addition, the myoelectric exoskeleton offers different levels of support, allowing the user to gradually increase muscle activation and improve strength and control over time. This progressive approach promotes neuroplasticity and thereby also supports active rehabilitation. In the long term, positive effects are expected with regard to the reduction of phantom limb pain as well as a preventive effect with regard to the avoidance of overuse symptoms. neo1 we love perfection

VINCENTevolution5 Humanoid Robotics Cutting-edge robotics meets high-tech hand prosthetics At Booth B59 in Hall 11 of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR) at the 2026 Hannover Messe, modern robotics and highly advanced bionic hand systems come together in a joint technological application. The latest generation of the ARMAR robot family, developed at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), impressively demonstrates how closely these two fields can work together. The ARMAR 7 service robot, developed at KIT, was equipped with two hand systems from the Karlsruhe-based company Vincent Systems GmbH as part of a research collaboration. The VINCENTevolution5 hand systems were equipped with a new interface and software for this application. The humanoid robots of the ARMAR family are designed to assist people in their daily lives and at work. ARMAR-7 has recently begun using our bionic VINCENT hands for this purpose and benefits from their proven suitability for everyday use, which is reflected in an extremely robust construction, high gripping force, and precise control. The robotic hands are made of high-strength aluminum and, optionally, titanium, which is coated with HTV silicone. In the hand, which weighs only 450g, six powerful motors control the 6 iDOF and 11 joints, enabling gripping forces of up to 45N to be generated at each individual fingertip. The robust, waterproof design (IP68) as well as the anatomical shape and size make the VINCENTevolution5 the ideal hand for humanoid robotics. ARMAR-7 with VINCENTevolution hand systems

Technical documentation, flyers, and installation instructions from Vincent Systems – for informational purposes only, intended for professionals. Downloads Area for registered partners The data sheets, flyers and assembly instructions provided are intended solely for the information of specialist circles and informal use. Any further publication requires the consent of Vincent Systems GmbH. VINCENTevolution5 VINCENTpartial4 VINCENTyoung3+ VINCENTwrist VINCENTpartial passive VINCENTpartial body Vpower flex USB-C VINCENTwork VINCENTaqua Emg1 Emg2

All types of gloves to customize your hand prosthesis. Cosmetic, thermal, or work gloves for greater flexibility in everyday life. Textile gloves & Accessories - GF glove factory GmbH GF. COSMETIC GLOVE - Cosmetic gloves GF. COLOR GLOVE - Unicolor gloves GF. THERMO SLEEVE - Textile sleeve for the prosthetic socket GF. WORK GLOVE - Work gloves GF glove factory GmbH GF. cosmetic gloves GF. color gloves

All technical information on the prosthesis, battery status, and user statistics with the number of in-use grasps can be found here. Close VINCENTmobile App HOME - Prosthesis : all technical information on the prosthesis, battery status, and user statistics with the number of in-use grasps can be found here. - About: all technical information about the app can be found here. SENSORS - Display of the individual sensor signals. - Sensor settings. Up

Jobs & internships at Vincent Systems: Join us in shaping the future of hand prosthetics – exciting positions in Karlsruhe. IT Administrator (m/w/d) Standort Karlsruhe Jetzt bewerben Arbeitsbereich IT Arbeitsmodell Vor Ort Anstellungsart Voll- oder Teilzeit Job ID DEEM1083_01 Startdatum ab sofort Job veröffentlicht 28.01.2026 Über Vincent Systems: Vincent Systems steht für innovative Medizintechnik, ein außergewöhnliches Design und für Hightech „made in Germany“. Mit unseren roboterähnlichen, myoelektrisch gesteuerten Produkten gestalten wir die Zukunft der Handprothetik und verbessern damit täglich die Lebensqualität vieler Menschen. Im grünen Zentrum der Technologiestadt Karlsruhe entwickeln und produzieren wir die weltweit modernsten und qualitativ hochwertigsten bionischen Prothesen und Exoskelette auf dem Markt. Die perfekte Verbindung von Hightech und Kunst, von Präzision und Innovation, von Mensch und Technik. Das macht uns aus und unsere Produkte zu etwas Besonderem. Deine Aufgaben: Mitarbeit bei Verwaltung und Wartung der IT-Infrastruktur (Server, Netzwerke, Hardware, Software) Administration, Pflege und Verwaltung der Telefonie und des internen Netzwerks Sicherstellung der IT-Sicherheit sowie Durchführung von Backups und Datenwiederherstellungen Beschaffung, Installation und Konfiguration von Hard- und Softwarekomponenten Fehlerdiagnose und -behebung bei IT-Problemen Verwaltung von Benutzerkonten und Lizenzen Dokumentation von IT-Prozessen und -Systemen Koordination von externen IT-Dienstleistern Was wir von Dir erwarten: Erfolgreich abgeschlossene Ausbildung im IT-Bereich oder Studium (z.B. Fachinformatiker, IT-Systemelektroniker, Studium Informatik/Wirtschaftsinformatik) oder eine vergleichbare Qualifikation Vorzugsweise mehrjährige Berufserfahrung in der IT-Administration Fundierte Kenntnisse in der Verwaltung von Windows- und Linux-Servern Erfahrung mit Netzwerkadministration (GPOs, AD, Fileserver, VPN) und Microsoft Exchange Idealerweise Erfahrung im Bereich IT-Sicherheit und Datenschutz Analytisches Denkvermögen und ausgeprägte Problemlösungsfähigkeiten Teamfähigkeit, Zuverlässigkeit und eine selbstständige Arbeitsweise Diskretion und Verantwortungsbewusstsein im Umgang mit vertraulichen Informationen Präsenz am Unternehmensstandort in Karlsruhe Sehr gute Deutsch- und Englischkenntnisse in Wort und Schrift Was bieten wir? Einen abwechslungsreichen, verantwortungsvollen Job in einem erfolgreichen Unternehmen Arbeiten in einer krisenfesten und zukunftssicheren Branche Faire Vertragsbedingungen und eine angenehme, kollegiale Arbeitsatmosphäre Zuschuss zur Kantine sowie kostenlose Getränke und frisches Obst Regelmäßiger Teambrunch und vielfältige Möglichkeiten für gemeinsame Aktivitäten – ob Sport in der Mittagspause oder besondere Events Flexible Arbeitszeitgestaltung 30 Tage Urlaub Interessiert? Sende uns ein Anschreiben sowie Deinen vollständigen Lebenslauf inkl. relevanter Zeugnisse unter Angabe eines frühestmöglichen Eintrittstermins und Deiner Gehaltsvorstellung per E-Mail an Frau Martin: bewerbung@vincentsystems.de . Unser Standort: Deine Ansprechperson: Emily Martin Human Resources bewerbung@vincentsystems.de

Tim shows how he wears his VINCENTevolution prosthesis openly: high-tech, customizable, and stylish—for everyday life and special occasions. Close Foto: Kira Flora High-tech you can touch: Why I wear my prosthesis openly By Tim Hello! I’m Tim, 33 years old, living with my wife in Stuttgart, and I have been a prosthesis user for 10 years. I have always been a very active and athletic person—even the accident that left me wearing a prosthetic arm for the past 10 years hasn't changed that. Nevertheless, such an event brings with it a number of new challenges. In addition to coping with everyday life, I also had to get used to a new body image. Suddenly, you no longer look like everyone else, which can be particularly difficult for young people. As an engineer, I have always been very interested in technology. So it was clear to me from the outset that my prosthesis should be visible. Personally, I have always preferred to wear it openly rather than covering it with sleeves or gloves. Today, I wear a myoelectric upper arm prosthesis with an active elbow and a VINCENTevolution from Vincent Systems – all in black. The “robotic” look of my left arm often sparks curiosity and fascination. Because I wear my prosthetic arm openly, people frequently approach me with questions. I can then decide for myself whether I feel like explaining my bionic prosthetic hand or not. B eyond public perception, aesthetics also play an important role in personal acceptance. The fact is, if you do not feel comfortable with your prosthesis, you are less likely to wear it consistently. This may lead to doing certain tasks without the prosthesis, even though a myoelectric prosthetic arm would actually be well suited for them. Fortunately, today there are many ways to customize the appearance of a prosthesis according to personal preferences. Often, prosthetists can incorporate visual customization directly during the fabrication of the socket. Covers allow for interchangeable looks for different occasions, and prosthetic hands are now available in an increasing variety of colors. The prosthetic hands from Vincent Systems, for example, are offered in numerous color combinations for both aluminum and silicone components. For my wedding this spring, I wore a light-colored suit. Since my regular prosthetic hand created a strong contrast, I borrowed a VINCENTevolution bionic hand in cream white and gold. The prosthesis blended perfectly with my outfit and complemented the look for this special occasion. The design philosophy of Vincent Systems has always emphasized open design. For their commitment to developing prosthetic hands that combine advanced functionality with visible high-tech aesthetics, without cosmetic gloves, the company received the German Design Award in 2014. Personally, I am very grateful to wear such a high-tech prosthetic device, one that I can fully rely on in everyday life as well as on special occasions. At the same time, I am excited about the future of modern prosthetic technology and look forward to the innovations yet to come.

2002 - Fluidhand 5 Up The Fluidhand 5 was designed with the aim of integrating all system components of miniature hydraulics into the metacarpals in order to make the hand compatible with established socket systems. The prosthesis can be connected to all standard prosthetic sockets via a quicksnap wrist. Both the myoelectric sensors and the energy storage of the socket are used. The pump, fluid tank, valve bank and controller are located in and on the metacarpus. With the reduction in tank size, the number of fluidic drive was reduced to 8. The ring finger and little finger are flexed over one drive each. In the weight-optimized frame in sandwich construction, the elastic finger abduction was integrated. Five valves control the 8 drives of the hand, with the ring, little and middle fingers being hydraulically connected to each other. Each of the 8 bellows-like drives is covered with a fabric that ensures the dimensional stability of the elastic inner chambers when a fluid is pumped into the cavity at a pressure of up to 6bar. The central chambers are fixed at the joint pivot point by loadable cords, thus the expansion of the bellows is redirected into a 90 degree rotational movement of the finger joint. The resetting of a joint is achieved by negative pressure in the bellows drive when the drive chambers are emptied; an elastic band supports the stretching of the joints. For storing the drive medium, usually water, Fluidhand 5 experimented with both foil membrane tanks and pressure storage tanks consisting of an elastic hose tank and a stable housing. Up

2001 - Fluidhand 4 Up The Fluidhand 4 has 10 flexible bellows drives, each of which, when pressurized, angles an aluminum joint by 90 degrees. Stretching is achieved by suction of the drive medium and by additional elastic bands. Each long finger has two drives that are fluidically coupled to each other and each leads to a common control valve in the metacarpus. The thumb has two individually movable drives, each of which is actuated by a separate valve. The drive medium is water. This hand prosthesis operates hydraulically for the first time. A miniature pump draws the fluid from an elastic reservoir in the forearm and pumps it at up to 6 bar via the valve bank into the bellows drive chambers. The pump and valves are controlled by a microprocessor in the hand, and the prosthesis wearer gives the control commands via myoelectric sensors. The skeletal structure of the prosthesis is made entirely of aluminum. The long fingers are flexibly mounted in the base in the direction of abduction. The unique combination of flexible fluid actuators and a mobile miniature hydraulic system in a myoelectrically controlled hand prosthesis opens up new possibilities in prosthetic fitting. The mechanical properties of the drives are already soft and flexible, making them ideal for adaptive grasping analogous to the human hand. Since the internal pressure is also distributed evenly in a hydraulic system, an ideal form fit to gripped objects is achieved. The grip thus adapts to an object independently and creates a maximally large contact surface, with the result that only very little grasping force is required to keep an object extraordinarily stable. The use of a hydraulic system has another advantage, which has a particularly positive effect on the mobility and weight of a prosthesis. The flexible fluid actuators are in themselves very small and lightweight drives. In the hydraulic pump, the electrical energy of the prosthesis battery is converted into kinetic energy. Only one pump is needed for the entire prosthesis system. The pump is the heaviest system component, but it can be positioned anywhere on the prosthesis because it is only connected to the valve bank and the drives via a flexible pressure hose. For optimal weight distribution in the prosthesis, the pump is placed as proximally to the arm as possible. Since all joints of my prosthesis are usually never moved at the same time, the pump size can be sized for a smaller number of drives. The grip selection is made using a reduced Morse code. A distinction is made between a long and a short myoelectric signal, with two consecutive signals considered at a time. User-defined settings as well as grip training are performed via a Bluetooth-connected pocket computer (precursor to the smartphone). The CFRP stem (Frühauf Handprothetik) and the lifelike silicone cosmetic (Pohlig Orthopädietechnik) create for the first time the combination of a multiarticulating functional hand and a habitus prosthesis. Up

How to contact Vincent Systems: Address, telephone number, email address for support and sales of hand prostheses and exoskeletons. Contact Vincent Systems GmbH Albert-Nestler-Str. 28-30 76131 Karlsruhe Germany General requests and support: Phone: +49 721 480 714 0 Fax: +49 721 480 714 99 E-Mail: service@vincentsystems.de Technical support for orthopedic technicians: Phone: +49 721 47 00 4444 Service hours: Mon - Thurs : 9am - 12 pm and 1pm - 4:30pm (CET) Fri: 9a m - 12pm and 1pm - 3p m (CET) Orders: E-Mail: sales@vincen tsystems.de Fax: +49 721 480 714 99 Imprint Information duty according to § 5 TMG. Vincent Systems GmbH CEO: Dr. Stefan Schulz Albert-Nestler-Str. 28-30 76131 Karlsruhe Germany Phone: +49 721 480 714 0 Fax: +49 721 480 714 99 E-Mail: service @vincentsystems.de Register court: AG Mannheim Register number: HRB 706896 VAT ID: DE 265276770